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The Best Bathrooms of 2016 All Had This in Common—Does Yours?

Just as the kitchen went from merely being a room where you prepare food to being a heart-of-the-home space where everyone congregates after a long day, the bathroom has gotten a similar treatment in recent years. Once regarded only as a place where—ahem—essential private things took place, it has now been rebranded into a sanctuary, a luxe space where to pamper oneself, unwind, and relax. It's no surprise that bathroom design has significantly shifted, too.

Last year, our favourite bathrooms didn't only feature marble countertops, subway tiles, and brass fixtures (staples that we've come to know and love), but they had a more sophisticated flair: vintage rugs, luxury products, and statement furniture has all become part of the latest bathroom vernacular. So how do you transform your own space into a lavish relaxing sanctuary? Whether you're planning on a full-blown gut reno or infusing your space with a few small accents, these are the trends that made our favorite bathrooms unforgettable last year.

Instagram first tipped us to the fact that seafoam green was trending in bathrooms everywhere when bathrooms in the green hue started amassing significantly more likes than bathrooms in other colors. This glass-walled number was a favourite.

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Rounded vanities, lacquered wood finishes, and deeply veined coloured marbles made their way into bathrooms everywhere, proving that Art Deco is, in fact, making a comeback. Another noteworthy Deco staple we saw a lot this year: terrazzo.

We've all had a love affair with traditional subway tiles for years, but this year we saw a different type of subway tile emerge: the square tile with dark grout. Popular in Scandinavian designs, it made its way into bathroom everywhere, like in this Brooklyn townhouse.

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The bathroom may not have been the place where to traditionally place your statement modern chairs, but 2016 forced us to reconsider. Why not have statement furniture to appoint our most lavish bath sessions?

Blame it on the impending extinction of Carrara marble or the rise of edgier designs, but black marble definitely started replacing its white counterpart in 2016, and we're only going to see more of it in coming months.

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And the award goes to… Aésop bath products, for seeping into every single bathroom counter last year. It seems as though everyone wants to get that boutique hotel feel, and why shouldn't we? It's the little luxuries that make life more enjoyable (and Instagrammable).

Whether clawfoot or soaking, freestanding tubs blew up our Instagram stats last year as one of the most beloved trend for 2016. It seems showering in bathtubs is no longer a thing—but finding the space for both a tub and shower is a luxury not readily available to all. One can only dream.